Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) Merry Christmas to all. Have a wonderful holiday however you choose to spend it. I hope you enjoyed the 2023 edition of 25 Days Of Christmas Music. It was a pleasure to share them with you. Here is my message from 2020 which I feel is just as relevant now:   I usually reserve “Joy To The World” for today, and despite the fact that it is indeed a joyous holiday, for this year I thought a song about peace would serve us all better. For ou ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the count down. A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) The holiest night of the year is upon us. In honor of Christmas Eve, I offer his & her versions of the song that celebrates this event which were recorded 25 years apart by a Queen and a Reverend.  “Silent night holy night All is calm all is bright ’Round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace“. Top: The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in an undated photo. Bottom ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) We may have lost actor Ryan O’Neal earlier this month, but the singer by the same name is luckily alive and well. Better known by the name of his musical project, Sleeping At Last, his sparse yet unbelievably elegant arrangements showcase his beautiful and unique voice perfectly. From the first time I heard “Touch” on “Grey’s Anatomy”, I knew this man had a way with music that is the complete antithesis of the auto tune world which has ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. My very own grown up Christmas list. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) The film “Philadelphia” was released 30 years ago today on December 22, 1993. The groundbreaking movie earned over $200 million and became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. It also gave Bruce Springsteen his first Oscar nomination and win for Best Original Song in 1994 for “Streets Of Philadelphia”. The track also earned the New Jersey native four Grammy Awards the same year as well: Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For T ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) I always associated today’s song with the original “Lethal Weapon” movie from 1987 (Mel Gibson = swoon). But after the 2004 release of “Mean Girls”, there is no way not to think about the Winter Talent Show scene and recall the shock of Cady’s parents to the suggestive moves their daughter & her friends used while dancing to this song. Or how Amy Poehler’s character thrusted right along with them while filming the performance from t ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) We have several versions of one a definitive holiday song today, from the well known classic recording to a superb cover by another crooner to a Motown rendition that is absolutely wonderful to a female spin that is top notch. There are many more ways to say “Merry Christmas To You” but I think these four renditions are amongst the best.  “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A lovely vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.) It is time for another his & her take on a holiday tune. Today’s song was published in 1945. Frank Sinatra recorded his version five years later. It reached #45 on the Holiday 100 chart. In 1959, his fellow Rat Pack buddy Dean Martin recorded his cover and it hit #6 on that chart plus it went to #8 on the mainstream Hot 100 singles chart. It appears to be the best selling version of this song. And as of today’s date (12/19/23), 64 ye ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A lovely vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.) The Ronettes released today’s song in 1963, so it is another holiday classic turning 60 years old. This track is from the album, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, which featured a collection of his artists performing seasonal songs. One of Darlene Love’s contributions from it was shared on Day 13 (she recorded a total of four for the album) which is my favorite from the record, but the Ronettes’ tune is right behind it. Ronnie ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A beautiful rustic Christmas tree decorated with a lovely assortment of neutral ornaments featured in Country Living Magazine.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) Today’s song is another sing along favorite that has been covered dozens of times. My favorite is by Ray Charles so what’s not to love? Plus, his version is featured in two of my favorite movies: ”When Harry Met Sally” and “Elf”.  This year I discovered another incredible take on this tune by Irish singer, songwriter & musician Hozier. His stripped down ..read more

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown. A beautiful rustic Christmas tree inside an old food tin featured in Country Living Magazine. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) Today’s pick is one of my favorite Christmas songs but I hardly hear it during the holiday season which absolutely baffles me. My favorite version of it was recorded by the transcendent Anthony Dominick Benedetto, better known as Tony Bennett. We lost this beautiful man earlier this year, but thanks to a career spanning 70 years, we will thankfully never be without his legacy or his voice.  In ad ..read more